Flush valve and valve outlet



May '8, 1956 A. w. HARKNESS 2,744,258

FLUSH VALVE AND VALVE OUTLET Filed/Jan. 29, 1954 /2 Andrew W Har/rness N INVENTOR. BY mv a- United States Patent FLUSH VALVE AND VALVE OUTLET Andrew W. Harkness, South Glens Falls, N. Y.

Application January 29, 1954, Serial No. 406,931

1 Claim. (Cl. 4-52) This invention relates to a flush valve and valve outlet and more specifically provides an improved means for securing the discharge valve outlet to the bottom of the toilet tank.

An object of this invention is to provide a flush valve and valve outlet comprising a tubular discharge pipe having projections on the outer surface thereof for engaging the under surface of the bottom of a toilet tank and a clamp or lock nut and a sealing gasket engaging the upper surface of the bottom of such a tank.

Another object of this invention is to provide a flush valve and valve outlet which replaces the usual outlet in an easy and eflicient manner.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a flush valve and valve outlet which is simple in construction, easy to attach, well adapted for its purposes, and

relatively inexpensive to manufacture and maintain.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, and wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section taken substantially along the longitudinal center line of the device of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the construction of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a group perspective showing the bottom end of the tubular discharge pipe and the aperture in the bottom of the tank for receiving the discharge pipe; and

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken substantially through the center line of a modified form of the valve outlet of the present invention.

Referring now specifically to the drawings it will be seen that the numeral generally designates the flush valve and valve outlet of the present invention for attachment to the bottom 12 of a conventional toilet tank 14 wherein the bottom 12 has an aperture 16 with oppositely disposed slots 18 in the side walls of the aperture 16.

As specifically shown in Figures 1-3, the valve outlet 10 includes a tubular sleeve 20 having projecting lugs 22 disposed oppositely on the outer surface of the sleeve 20 at its lower end. A pair of oppositely disposed and internally projecting lugs 24 are disposed on the inner surface of the tubular sleeve 20 and are arranged to be positioned adjacent the projecting lugs 22. The upper external surface of the tubular sleeve 20 is provided with external threads 26 for engaging an internally threaded lock nut 28. A sealing gasket 30 is positioned between the lock nut 28 and the bottom 12 of the tank 14 for sealing the aperture 16 and the slots 18 in water-tight relation. The upper end of the sleeve 20 is cylindrical and is generally tapered as indicated by the numeral 32 for receiving a ball valve 34 which is attached to a flexible line 36 that is connected to the lifting arm of a conventional valve ball operating mechanism.

A cage generally indicated by the numeral 38 is secured to an internally threaded nut 40 which is detachably attached to the upper end of the external threads 26 2,744,258 Patented May 8, 1956 for retaining the valve ball in alignment with the valve ball seat 32 on the upper end of the sleeve 20.

As illustrated in Figure 4, the tubular sleeve 20 is provided with an aperture 42 in the circumference of the tubular sleeve and a larger aperture 44 located diametrically opposite to the aperture 42. A rod 46 is slidably positioned in the apertures 42 and 44 and project outwardly from the tubular sleeve 20 for positioning against the under surface of tank 14 thereby retaining the sleeve 20 in the aperture 16.

The aperture 44 is generally larger than the aperture 42 thereby permitting the tubular sleeve to be inserted in the aperture 16 and the rod 46 inserted through the aperture 44 and permitting the rod 46 to be moved to horizontal position and moved reversely through the aperture 42 thereby fastening the tubular sleeve 20 to the bottom 12 of the tank 14.

The operation of the device as illustrated in Figures 1-3 will be readily understood. The tubular sleeve 20 is inserted through the aperture 16 with the lugs 22 disposed in the slots 18. The sleeve 20 is then rotated degrees for positioning the lugs 22 in engagement with the under surface of the bottom 12. The sealing gasket 30 is then placed on the upper end of the sleeve 20 which projects above the upper surface of the bottom 12 and the lock nut 28 is threaded thereon in an obvious manner and tightened. A spud wrench is engaged with the internal lugs 24 to prevent the rotation of the tubular sleeve 20 as the lock nut 28 is being tightened for effecting a watertight seal. Obviously, the cage 38 is placed on the tubular sleeve 20 in an obvious manner.

The device in Figure 4 performs the same results and utilizes the pair of apertures 42 and 44 in conjunction with the rod 46 for securing the tubular sleeve 20 to the bottom 12 of the tank 14. The specific construction of Figure 4 is especially useful in one piece toilets where the bottom of the tank is actually a part of the toilet bowl.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A flush valve outlet for attachment to the apertured bottom wall of a flush tank comprising, a tubular sleeve adapted to extend through the opening, means detachably connected to the upper end of said sleeve and adapted to engage the upper surface of the bottom wall. of the tank, and means at the lower end of the sleeve for selectively engaging the lower surface of the bottom wall of the tank, said means at the lower end of the sleeve extending laterally, said means including a transverse removable pin extending through diametrically aligned apertures in the sleeve with one of the apertures being elongated to permit insertion of the pin from the interior of the sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 277,557 Folrner May 15, 1883 422,961 Morrison Mar. 11, 1890 605,989 Bean June 21, 1898 1,019,572 Whipple Mar. 5, 1912 1,755,104 Deierlein Apr. 15, 1930 1,788,282 Drager Jan. 6, 1931 2,001,390 Lester May 14, 1935 2,087,099 Tilden July 13, 1937 2,511,545 Roseclair June 13, 1950 

